Come on Hayesfan, you're better than that...letting Mark Jackson annoy you. You have to have a dumb commentator paired with a smart one, its entertaining.
Battier- Guards Kobe best offensive player 4 times Kobe- Guards Kobe best offensive player 0 times Battier wins by default
I just have trouble dealing with the dumb... having my thoughts run to what JVG might say in response makes it entertaining.
I was using this thread as an excuse to use Jackson's catch phrase "you're better than that..." but i don't think he's all that dumb. You have to be pretty smart (bball IQ wise) be a decent PG in the NBA.
Let me rephrase.. I don't think he's dumb, but I don't think he considers what he's about to say before he says it. Then he's too stubborn to say he didn't mean it the way it came out.
I really like JVG's commentary. He's great, and I actually like that he is paried up with Jackson..it's fun. I agree that Battier is underappreciated as a defender, but I still think at this point the Rox should at least put his name out as a trade possibility and see what it stirs up. For the right deal (i.e., legit 3rd scorer), I'd move him.
I was surprised to see JVG defend Battier so strongly on national television, when Battier isn't really a "name" player and it was a finals game in which he was no part of. Not exact words: JVG: As good a defender as Kobe is, I think Shane Battier should have been All-Defensive 1st Team. Mark Jackson: Look at Kobe shut down Pierce. He's one of the best defenders in the league. JVG: Are you even watching this?! He didn't shut him down, that was double team!
News Flash...the Rockets double team everybody. They still use Van Gundy's tactic of protecting the paint by soft trapping all dribble penetration. Battier gets beaten off the dribble regularly. But he shades the offensive player to where he knows his defensive help will be. Anyone who thinks Battier is an elite 1:1 defender just doesn't watch closely. As far as VG, he's had his nose up Battier's posterior for years now. Fortunately, there are 29 NBA coaches doing the voting and not just him.
great analysis. Shane is an elite team defender though but that's almost all about intelligence. Anything shane does an average SF could learn to do. If we ever got Artest people would see the difference.
If he speaks up every time Jackson says something dumb, there wouldn't be time to actually discuss what's happening next in the game. Had to pick his fights.
Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, and formerly Shawn Marion. They didn't necessarily have to double Kobe, and another thing to consider is most teams are going to double a star player at some point in the game, even if a great defender is on him....it may not be 4 quarter double team, but it might be an occassional double team, not on every possession.
Cuz Hubie is always on the Reff's jockstrap if you noticed, he'll never deviate from the calls they make
Thank you! I've said this several times before. He reminds me of Joe Theismann doing Sunday night football. And he has the same go to statement about every single player. "Here's a guy who knows how to get the job done. When he's on the court, you know you're going to get solid (points/rebs/assist/defense) from him"
i def heard that, i love jvg and mark jackson they just bicker all the time, it's hilarious. i think kobe is a first team caliber defensive player, but he doesn't focus on d like battier so battier should receive the honor. i think battier deserved dpy over garnet, but w/e
